Guest Blog: X&Co

Ahead of the referendum next week, Xnthony shares his feelings about the event. Along with his company X & CO, Xnthony will be preseing DOUZE at our Being European festival this Saturday.

‘Who are we? Who are you? >Who are we in this EU?’

I had a piece. A rambling piece about fear and paralyses. I was going to mention how great the EU is and all that and how it connected to DOUZE, a show about the Eurovision we are presenting at the festival. And then the shootings in Orlando happened. And then I thought…fuck.

And now I’m scared.

You see…in my mind, all of these things are connected – Brexit, Trump, the scary extremism, the scary stupidity, the shootings in Orlando, the migrant crisis, Christ knows what else… It’s all part of the same rising tide.

Now this probably obvious to you all, but I guess I’m here to communicate the feelings I have and the things I have noticed. I’m not really into making a stab at answers.

When I was writing my first draft, I said to a friend ‘I feel paralysed by the referendum’. I honestly couldn’t manage a strategy to cope with the stupidity of the situation. I am only now growing my arsenal of retorts and responses.

You’re not very good at referendums, Britain. Us Irish, well, we love a referendum. And as an Irish person, who can vote in this re-DICK-ulous plebiscite, well, that gives me a unique viewpoint. As an outsider, I see the damage you are doing to yourselves. I see the damage it will do to the North. Not even financially but psychologically. Borders back up in the North like.

And it’s not just this referendum. I saw what Cameron did in the general election, how he pitted you against each other. He put a knife in your country, and it’s cutting you apart. It’s gas (Irish slang for funny) that he’s now supporting a remain. It’s more than awkward, and it’s highlights the weakness of his leadership.

Now this probably obvious to you all, but I guess I’m here to communicate the feelings I have and the things I have noticed. I’m not really into making a stab at answers.

I’m scared.

I could easily push for a ‘leave’, for the benefit of Ireland. Finally, Ireland could kick the UK’s ass. Imagine the influx of investment we Irish would get with our delicious 12.5% corporation tax and swaths of english speaking, tech savvy, charming Irish men and women. Once you guys left, of course. And two years down the line. Maybe. If the roll of the dice went our way. It’d be totes fabulous. But no, we can’t be that selfish about ourselves. And you wouldn’t base your future on the roll of a dice would you?

And you heard about the shootings in Orlando? You heard about that? The biggest mass killing of members of the LGBTI community since the holocaust? That’s why I feel so angry as I write this. I’ve been warned not to seem too emotional.

But I can’t help but feel that it’s all connected. I can feel the fear creeping in the air. I’m scared.